Own a piece of history. Trinitite is a rare, olive-green glass created when desert sand fused under the intense heat of the world’s first atomic bomb test—code-named Trinity.
- Size: 22 x 12 x 5mm
- Weight: 1.32g
- Includes: 1.25" Collector's box with label.
History of Trinitite
The detonation took place at 5:29 a.m. on July 16, 1945, at the Trinity Site, about 35 miles southeast of Socorro, New Mexico, on what was then White Sands Proving Ground (now White Sands Missile Range).
The blast—roughly equivalent to 20 kilotons of TNT—melted the desert surface and left a glass-lined crater about 10 ft deep and nearly 1,100 ft across.
Most Trinitite in collections today was recovered in the late 1940s–early 1950s. In 1952, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission banned collecting Trinitite, and the crater was bulldozed and buried. Collecting Trinitite at the site remains strictly prohibited.
A fascinating characteristic of Trinitite is its dual surface: a sand-grain textured underside and a smooth, melted upper surface. Many researchers suggest this formed when sand was drawn up into the fireball of the explosion and later rained back down, rather than simply melting in place beneath the blast.
The Trinity Site remains closed to the public most of the year, opening only 1–2 times annually for limited visitors.
Our specimens come from a vintage collection of a retired rock shop owner, collected pre-ban in the 1940s-50s, carefully stored away for decades—authentic pieces of history preserved through time.
Collector's Notes
- Authentic artifact of a pivotal moment in science and world history.
- Distinctive sage-to-bottle-green glass with a matte, vesicular surface.
- Documented, legally obtained specimen from vintage collection.
- Low, background-level radioactivity comparable to common granites; safe to handle and display.
To show unique details, each piece of Trinitite is photographed close-up. This may make items appear larger than their actual size. Please refer to size measurements for accurate assessment.
